Thursday, January 19, 2012

Oh Hello!

It's been a long time, I know.

This post, however, is not an assurance of a come-back.

There was just a sudden kick that lead me to write here again. I read a story, which was shared with my husband a few hours ago, that could completely change how you conduct yourself around people whom you deem as "inferior individuals".

From Paulo Coelho's blog, a 30-second reading:

The Black Man (a true story)

We are at the restaurant of a German University. A red haired student, and undeniably German takes her tray and sits down at her table.
She then realizes she has forgotten her cutlery and gets up again to pick it up.

Coming back, she sees with astonishment that a black man, possibly sub-Saharian by his appearance, is sitting there and is eating from her tray.
Straight away, the young woman feels lost and stressed . But immediately changes her thought and presumes that the African is not familiar with European customs concerning private property and privacy.
She also takes into consideration that perhaps he does not have enough money to pay for his meal.

In any case, she decides to sit in front of the guy and to smile at him in a friendly manner.
The African responds with another dazzling smile.
The German girl starts to help herself, –sharing the food with the black man with genuine pleasure and courtesy.
And thus, he took the salad, she ate the soup, both took their share of the stew, one took care of the yoghurt and the other of the piece of fruit,
All this peppered with numerous refined smiles – timid from the man and smoothly, encouraging and kind by the girl -.
They eat up their lunch.
The German girl gets up to get a coffee.
And it is then that she discovers, on the table behind the black man, her coat placed on the back of a chair and her food tray untouched.

This story is not new. It is a classic. It happens every second somewhere out there in different versions. I am positive that you have experienced something similar to this, yourself. It's not supposed to stop and make you analyze deeply. Because the lesson is unveiled as soon as you read the last sentence. It wakes up your sense of humility.

Me

I play songs on repetition for months. I have a soft spot for polka dots and union jacks. I love walking but not when the sun's out. Walking is thinking time. Ice cream is my comfort food. I stopped drinking softdrinks 10 years ago. And I enjoy leafy meals. :)